Jean-Philippe Mateta injury updates – Crystal Palace striker breaks silence after horror collision during FA Cup tie
SATURDAY'S FA Cup fifth round action has concluded.
It kicked off with two thrilling derbies as Crystal Palace beat London rivals Millwall 3-1, and Preston shocked Burnley with a 3-0 win in the Lancashire derby.
was taken off on a stretcher early on at Selhurst Park after the Palace striker was on the receiving end of a kung-fu-like kick from Liam Roberts, which saw the Lions keeper see red.
The forward was rushed to hospital where he received specialist treatment and 25 stitches to a severe laceration to his left ear.
Mateta confirmed via Instagram that he was "doing well" and hopes to be back "very soon."
Later in the day, Bournemouth knocked Wolves out on penalties in an all-Premier League clash.
Saturday's action finished with Manchester City denying Plymouth another upset, winning 3-1 at the Etihad.
Follow our live blog below...
Goal - Robbie Brady (Preston)
View from SunSport's Justin Allen at Selhurst Park
Millwall’s 10 men are holding on so far and came close to scoring when Josh Coburn steered an effort wide after a great long throw from Wes Harding.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has been taken to hospital after Liam Roberts’ shocking challenge.
He needed almost 10 minutes of medical attention on the pitch until they were able to carry him off the pitch.
Keeper Lukas Jensen has just made a brilliant save from Ben Chilwell.
Now Camiel Neghli is hobbling off for Millwall and being replaced by teenager Raees Bangura-Williams
Preston 0-0 Burnley
32. Since taking over at Turfmoor, Scott Parker has focussed on making his side solid at the back.
This calendar year, the only goal they have conceded was against Reading in a previous round of the FA Cup.
While this is once again the case at Deepdale, The Clarets are creating very little in the final third themselves.
Credit: AFP
Crystal Palace 0-0 Millwall
25. The Lions are struggling to keep Palace out at the moment.
Eze has the first effort, which is clawed away by the keeper.
It comes out to Munoz, who fires a shot off but it is well-blocked.
Millwall's goal is leading a charmed life right now.
Preston 0-0 Burnley
22. The visitors are seeing far more possession so far in the game.
Not that it is a worrying stat for the hosts, they have a more direct style of play.
Preston have had all the shots so far, Parker's side are still waiting for their first shot on or off target.
View from SunSport's Justin Allen at Selhurst Park
Lions keeper Liam Roberts was sent off after a moment of complete and utter madness.
Jean-Philippe Mateta was carried off on a stretcher after being down on the ground for eight minutes.
What a complete moment of madness from Millwall keeper Liam Roberts.
Roberts raced out of his box and although he played the ball his left foot was so high it struck Matata’s head.
Initially ref Michael Oliver took no action - but VAR invited him to watch the incident again.
He promptly changed his decision. It remains a mystery how he missed it in the first place.
Mateta was given oxygen as he was taken off.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Millwall
19. Almost the perfect introduction for the former Arsenal man.
Nketiah has the ball in the back of the net but it is immediately ruled out for handball.
The visitors go down the other end and as a cross is flicked on at the near post, Turner gets down well to make the save.
View from SunSport's Jack Rosser at Deepdale
No one has created too much early on at Deepdale, but the Burnley fans behind their goal are mainly focusing on Osmajic - who is getting incredibly loud jeers every time he touches the ball.
While Parker may have made nine changes, the Clarets still have plenty of attacking talent with Sarmiento looking lively so far.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Millwall
15. Bad news for The Eagles.
Mateta is being stretchered off and seems to be heading straight to hopsital for further tests.
Nketiah comes on for Crystal Palace, looking to follow up his first Premier League goal this afternoon.
Credit: @BBCSport
Crystal Palace 0-0 Millwall
10. The worst possible start for the visitors.
Goalkeeper Liam Roberts has been shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The Palace striker is receiving treatment as we speak.
Credit: @BBCSport Red card - Liam Roberts (Millwall)
Crystal Palace 0-0 Millwall
9. The hosts are dominating possession in the early stages.
Despite that, The Eagles are struggling to create chances.
Millwall will have planned to allow Palace to see a lot of the ball, knowing that they need to be clinical on the counter to stand any chance of upsetting the odds this afternoon.
Credit: Reuters Parker with hopes of testing credentials
Victory over Preston this afternoon would book a quarter-final place for Scott Parker's high-flying Burnley.
With the side aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League, getting to the latter rounds of the cup would give him the chance of a trial run against the big teams.
Parker would be able to see just how prepared his side are for locking horns with Premier League opposition once again.
View from SunSport's Justin Allen at Selhurst Park
The two teams have just completed their warm ups at Selhurst Park ahead of what should be a cracking South London derby.
This is a great opportunity for both clubs to progress in the FA Cup with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham out of the competition. Palace are in no danger of relegation while Millwall are solid mid-table in the Championship.
Oliver Glasner has only made three changes for this one. In come Matt Turner, Ben Chilwell and Jefferson Lerma for Dean Henderson, Adam Wharton and Tyrick Mitchell.
Millwall fans are in full voice as their team trudge off down the tunnel. The Championship side are in great form, losing one of their last eight and having knocked Leeds out at Elland Road.
The Lions made four changes — bringing in Liam Roberts, Billy Mitchell, Josh Coburn and Wes Harding for Lukas Jensen, Tristan Carma, George Saville and Mihailo Ivanovic.
London calling at Selhurst Park
There is never any love lost between sides from the capital.
Millwall travel to their Premier League neighbours, hoping to cause an upset.
Ex-Lions player Eberechi Eze in on the bench this afternoon, which will be music to the ears of the visitors.
Credit: Getty
Big day of cup action
It is getting to the stage of the competition now where sides are starting to dream of doing the unthinkable.
Victory in the fifth round books a place in the quarter-finals, meaning sides are just one win away from Wembley.
The stakes could not be higher and the magic of the FA Cup is drawing fans in their droves to see it play out.
How Palace line-up
Oliver Glasner has named a strong side to face Championship outfit Millwall this afternoon.
Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi and in-from striker Jean-Philippe Mateta all start in the FA Cup clash.
VAR introduced
VAR was not used in the FA Cup from rounds one to four.
But from the fifth round onwards, VAR will be introduced across all ties.
In-stadium VAR announcements will also be made.
Semi-automated offside technology will also be utilised in seven of the eight fifth-round ties.
Preston vs Burnley is the only clash that will not have the technology due to Deepdale not being a Premier League stadium.
Previously, VAR was used in the FA Cup in the third and fourth rounds, but only at Premier League stadiums "due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation."
Credit: Getty View of SunSport's Jack Rosser from Deepdale
Scott Parker said he would have to think hard about whether or not to include midfielder Hannibal Mejbri after he accused Preston's Milutin Osmajic of racism during their game two weeks ago.
Parker has opted to leave the former Manchester United man out of the squad entirely, while Osmajic - who refutes the accusation - starts.
Preston vs Burnley team news
Preston XI: Woodman, Lindasy, Keane, McCann, Brady, Ledson, Gibson, Thordarson, Osmajic, Kesler-Hayden, Potts
Burnley XI: Hladky, Sonne, Worrall, Esteve, Sarmiento, Brownhill, Benson, Forster, Pires, Shelvey, Koleosho
Crystal Palace vs Millwall team news
Palace XI: Turner, Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Chilwell, Hughes, Lerma, Sarr, Eze, Mateta
Millwall XI: Roberts, Cooper, Tanganga, Mitchell, Azeez, Bryan, Coburn, De Norre, Cundle, Harding, Neghli
Recap of last night’s game
Marco Asensio has won 17 major honours with Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain.
But the Spaniard only has one Spanish and one French Cup to show for his efforts.
However he set himself up for a crack at a unique hat-trick at Wembley in May by firing the double which sent Aston Villa into their first FA Cup quarter-final since 2015.
With a little help from another FA Cup newcomer… semi-automated offside technology!
The new high-tec system was a hit as it swiftly decided Marcus Rashford was marginally ONSIDE in the build-up to Asensio's breakthrough goal after 68 minutes.
Youri Tielemans' clever chip sprang the former Manchester United man who was playing on the shoulder of a Cardiff defender.
And when Rashford squared the ball, Asensio swept the ball past Ethan Horvath to finally break the Bluebirds resistance.
Normally we might have spent five minutes waiting for blue and red lines to be drawn and scrutinised.
Here the job was done in seconds - and so were Cardiff - when Asensio added a second 12 minutes later to finally bury the Welsh club.
Good afternoon and welcome to SunSport’s live blog of today’s FA Cup action!
The competition is drawing towards to the business end, with some huge fifth round clashes taking place this weekend.
Last night, Aston Villa became the first side to book their spot in the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Cardiff.
Today’s featured clash sees fourth round giant killers Plymouth travel to Premier League champions Manchester City.
The Championship strugglers secured a stunning 1-0 win over Prem leaders Liverpool in the fourth round.
Here is the full schedule for the fifth round:
Friday, February 28
Aston Villa 2-0 Cardiff City
Saturday, March 1
12.15pm - Crystal Palace v Millwall
12:15pm - Preston North End v Burnley
3pm - Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers
5.45pm - Manchester City v Plymouth ArgyleSunday, March 2
1.45pm - Newcastle United v Brighton & Hove Albion
4.30pm - Manchester United v FulhamMonday, March 3
7.30pm - Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town
